Community Energy refers to a diverse range of community-led energy initiatives with local engagement, leadership, benefit and control at their heart. As the energy landscape changes, so has the focus of community energy projects. The focus has shifted from solely generating and purchasing electricity to a whole system approach which includes tackling local fuel poverty through energy efficiency support, reducing energy use, and providing local energy advice services.
To find more information about community energy, visit the Community Energy England website.
We work with community energy groups, charities and local organisations to share and learn from examples of best practice, provide energy efficiency advice and advise on the most efficient way communities can reduce their carbon emissions.
In an increasingly interconnected energy system, collaboration is essential. Partnerships are an invaluable model in supporting communities to secure suitable sites for energy development and sharing the technical knowledge needed to implement projects.
From communities installing solar panels to local authorities planning to install public electric vehicle charge points, we aim to make the process of connecting to our network as straightforward as possible, and encourage energy assets to take part in our growing Flexibility market.
We know that access to funding is one of the key challenges for community energy groups. Our Power Partners scheme provides grants for impactful projects and our Priority Services Register (PSR) ensures we support customers in vulnerable circumstances during power cuts.
To help community organisations help customers who need us the most, we run a £300,000 per year grant scheme Power Partners with the support of the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE). The fund provides grants of between £2,000 and £20,000 to not-for-profit organisations in our region. Community projects the fund has supported include energy efficiency advice and interventions, tariff switching and time of use tariff awareness, new registrations for the Priority Services Register; provision of energy advice training and Support for frontline workers.
To find out more about our Power Partners scheme and how to bid for future funding rounds visit the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
If you are part of the local authority within our coverage area and would like to get in touch, you can email our Public Affairs Manager who will arrange to contact you back.
Got a question or want to find out more about how we can support your community energy project? Send us an email and one of our team will contact you back with more information.
Have you got a renewable energy project and wish to connect to our electricity network? Send us an email and we will arrange for our team to contact you back.